LIB DEMS USE ALTERNATIVE BUDGET TO FOCUS ON HOUSING

The Liberal Democrats would use the Budget to tackle the housing crisis, leader Paddy Ashdown announced this week....

The Liberal Democrats would use the Budget to tackle the housing crisis, leader Paddy Ashdown announced this week.

In a fully costed alternative budget, released the week before chancellor Kenneth Clarke is due to reveal his tax and spending plans for the coming year, the Lib Dems said they would begin the phased reinvestment of capital receipts from council house sales to provide new social housing.

In addition, they would provide more money for homeless hostels and extend the work of the Empty Homes Agency.

'Yet again it looks like housing will bear the brunt of swingeing government cuts in this year's Budget,' said housing spokesperson Diana Maddock.

'Its neglect of housing has been a false economy as it has led to higher private sector rents and an explosion of housing benefit payouts.'

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